Steam bath

ABSTRACT

A BATHTUB HAS A SUPPORT MEANS THEREIN TO SUPPORT A PERSON ABOVE THE BOTTOM OF THE TUB. A CANOPY MEANS INCLUDES A PAIR OF FLEXIBLE CANOPY PORTION, AND A PAIR OF CASINGS ARE DISPOSED ADJACENT OPPOSITE ENDS OF THE BATHTUB. ONE END OF EACH OF THE CANOPY PORTIONS FIXED IN POSITION WITHIN THE CONFINES OF ONE OF SAID CASINGS, THE OTHER END OF EACH OF SAID CANOPY PORTIONS BEING SECURED TO ONE OF A PAIR OF MOVABLE CANOPY SUPPORT PORTIONS WHICH ARE SLIDABLY GUIDED IN THEIR MOVEMENT BY A PAIR OF ELONGATED GUIDE MEMBERS EXTENDING ALONG OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE TOP OF THE BATHTUB AND HAVING CHANNELS RECEIVING THE LOWER ENDS OF THE CANPOY SUPPORT PORTIONS.

Oct. 12, 1971 DUDLEY 3,611,448

STEAM BATH 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 1, 1970 FIG. 2.

INVENTOR EDDIE L. DUDLEY ATTORNEYS Oct. 12; 1971 E. L. DUDLEY STEAM BATH2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 1. 1970 lll HJllIIlllh.

FIG. 5.

EDDIE L. DUDLEY ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,611,448 STEAM BATHEddie L. Dudley, 934 Laurel, St. Louis, Mo. 63112 Filed May 1, 1970,Ser. No. 33,551 Int. Cl. A61h 33/12 US. Cl. 4-162 Claims ABSTRACT OF THEDISCLOSURE A bathtub has a support means therein to support a personabove the bottom of the tub. A canopy means includes a pair of flexiblecanopy portions, and a pair of casings are disposed adjacent oppositeends of the bathtub. One end of each of the canopy portions fixed inposition within the confines of one of said casings, the other end ofeach of said canopy portions being secured to one of a pair of movablecanopy support portions which are slidably guided in their movement by apair of elongated guide members extending along opposite sides of thetop of the bathtub and having channels receiving the lower ends of thecanopy support portions.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to steambaths, conventional steam bath constructions usually being in the formof cabinets and the like which are separate, complex and expensiveconstructions which require considerable space and which are notpractical for home use. It is accordingly desirable to provide anarrangement for converting a conventional bathtub as found in theaverage home into a steam bath.

In order to successfully convert a bathtub into a steam bth, theconstruction must be relatively inexpensive, easily installed and mustpresent a neat and attractive appearance when not in use as a steambath. The consrtuction should not substantially interfere with thenormal use of the bathtub and must be readily moved into operativeposition when it is desired to be used. At the present time, there is nomeans available for accomplishing these desired end results.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In the present invention, a support means isdisposed within a conventional bathtub to support a person above thebottom of the tub. Canopy means is provided including a pair of separatecanopy portions, each of these portions being formed of a flexiblesubstantially waterproof and heat resistant material. At least one ofthese canopy portions is provided with a zipper extending longitudinallythereof, and a temperature indicating means in the form of a thermometeris supported by the canopy portion.

The present invention is relatively inexpensive in construction and canbe readily installed with existing bathtubs. The construction presents aneat finished appearance and does not interfere with normal use of thebathtub. The steam bath can be readily moved into and out of operativeposition when so desired.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a top perspective viewpartly broken away showing the steam bath of the present invention inoperative position;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 22 of FIG. 1looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 illustrating the manner in which thesteam bath may be moved into inoperative position so as to permit normaluse of the bathtub;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 44 of FIG. 2looking in a direction of the arrows; and,

3,611,448 Patented Oct. 12, 1971 ice FIG. 5 is a top perspective viewpartly broken away illustrating the manner in which the guide membersserve to guide longitudinal movement of the canopy support portions.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawingswherein like reference characters designate corresponding partsthroughout the several views, a conventional bathtub is indicatedgenerally by reference numeral 10. Disposed within and supported by thebottom of the bathtub is a table 12 having leg portions 14 whichterminate in lower enlarged base portions 16. These portions 16 may havea suitable substance such as rubber or the like on the bottom thereof soas to prevent relative movement of the table with respect to the bottomof the bathtub when in use.

A chair or seat portion 20 is suitably contoured so as to support thebody of a person using the steam bath, this seat portion being held inoperative position by a plurality of nut and bolt assemblies 22 whichserve to rigidly attach the seat portion to the table. Both the seatportion and the table may be formed of a suitable waterproof materialsuch as fiber glass or the like.

A pair of casings 30 and 32 are fixedly secured to the walls adjacentthe opposite ends of the bathtub by suitable fastening means, thecasings including closure means 34 and 36 respectively in the form offlat members which are hingedly connected to the associated casings forclosing otf portions of the casings and holding the respective canopyportions in place when the canopy portions are stored within thecasings.

The canopy means includes a pair of canopy portions which are formed ofa flexible substantial-1y waterproof and heat resistant material such aswell-known fabrics presently on the market having the desiredcharacteristics. A first canopy portion 40 has one end 42 thereof fixedWithin casing 30 by means of a clamping member 46 held in place bysuitable fastening members. A second canopy portion 50 has one end 52thereof secured in place within casing 32 by means of a clamping member54 held in position by suitable fastening members.

The opposite free end of canopy portion 40 is secured to a pair ofrelatively rigid canopy support portions 60 each of which includes anupstanding part which joins with an inwardly directed portion 62 as seenin FIG. 4. The ends 64 of parts 62 of each of these canopy supportportions are joined by an arcuate reinforced end 66 of canopy portion 40which is adapted to fit about the neck of a person using the steam bath.The free end of canopy portion 40 is suitably secured to the canopysupport portions 60 by bindings 68 wrapped around the canopy supportportions and engaging the canopy portion.

The free end of canopy portion 50 is similarly secured to a pair ofcanopy support portions 70 identical to canopy support portions 60', theinner ends of canopy support portions 70 being interconnected by anarcuate reinforced end 72 of canopy portion 50 which is also adapted to-fit around the neck of a person using the steam bath.

When the canopy portions have been moved into the operative position asshown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the arcuate ends 66 and 72 of canopy portions 40and 50 substantially surround the neck of a person using the steam bathand the ends of the two canopy portions are disposed in abuttingrelationship with one another so as to provide a substantially enclosedarea within which steam may accumulate from hot water directed into thebottom of the tub from the conventional faucet associated therewith.

A zipper is provided in canopy portion 40 and extends longitudinallythereof. A manually engageable portion extends on either side of thezipper to facilitate operation of the zipper either from the interior orthe exterior of the canopy portion. A temperature indicating means inthe form of a thermometer 82 is also supported by canopy portion 40.This thermometer is adapted to measure the temperature within the steambath and is in such a position as to be readily visible by a personusing the steam bath.

Guide means is provided for guiding movement of the canopy supportportions in the form of a pair of elongated relatively rigid guidemembers 90 which may be formed as a metallic extrusion for example.These guide members have channels 92 disposed therewithin and extendinglongitudinally thereof, each channel being in communication with theupper surface of the guide members by means of an elongated slot 94. Thetwo elongated guide members are supported at opposite sides of thebathtub on the upper edges thereof and may be suitably adhesivelysecured in place or attached by means of mechanical fasteners if sodesired.

As seen in FIG. 5, the lower end of each of canopy support portions 60includes an enlarged part 96 of complementary configuration to thechannel 92 formed in guide member 90. In a similar manner, the lower endof each of canopy support portions 70 is provided with an enlarged part98 of complementary configuration to the channel in the guide member. Itis apparent that this construction will insure that the canopy supportportions are guided for movement longitudinally of the guide members,the canopy support portions being readily slidable along the guidemembers for movement between operative and inoperative positions.

The two canopy portions may be folded up and stored in the inoperativeposition shown in FIG. 3 whereby the present invention presents a neatappearance and does not interfere with normal use of the bathtub. Whenit is desired to employ the steam bath, the table and seat portion arefirst disposed in operative position within the tub, whereupon theclosure members 34 and 36 are swung upwardly and two canopy portions arepulled out into operative position shown in FIG. 1. Hot water is thenrun into the bathtub producing steam which will accumulate within theenclosure defined by the canopy portions to effectively provide a steambath.

As this invention may be employed in several forms without departingfrom the spirit or essential characteristics thereof, the presentembodiment is therefore illustrative and not restrictive.

What is claimed is:

1. A steam bath comprising a bathtub having a drain and means forsupplying super-heated water to the bottom thereof, support means forsupporting a person above the bottom of said bathtub, canopy meansformed of flexible, substantially waterproof and heat resistantmaterial, canopy support portions secured to said canopy means tosupport the canopy means in operative position, said canopy supportportions being movable laterally to uncover the bathtub, and guide meansoperatively associated with said canopy support portions for guidingmovement of said canopy support portions and said canopy means relativeto said bathtub.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said 4 canopy means includestwo separate portions, each of said portions having one end thereofsecured in place, the other end of each of said portions being securedto one of said movable support portions.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein each of said canopy portionsincludes an arcuate reinforced end to fit about the neck of a person.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said canopy means includes azipper extending longitudinally of a portion of the canopy means, andtemperature indicating means supported by said canopy means.

5. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said canopy support portionsinclude upstanding parts the upper ends of which extend inwardly soas toprovide clearance for a person using the steam bath.

6. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said guide means comprises apair of relatively rigid elongated guide members disposed at oppositesides of the bathtub.

7. Apparatus as defined in claim 6, wherein each of said members has achannel formed therein and extending longitudinally thereof forreceiving the lower end of the associated support portions.

8. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said canopy means includes apair of separate canopy portions, a pair of casings being mounted infixed position adjacent opposite ends of the bathtub, each of saidcasings receiving one of said canopy portions.

9. Apparatus as defined in claim 8, wherein each of said casingsincludes a movably mounted closure means for closing 011 a portion ofthe associated casing.

10. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said canopy means includesa pair of separate canopy portions each of which has one end secured inplace, each of said portions having the other end thereof secured to oneof said movable support portions, said guide means comprising a pair ofrelatively rigid elongated members disposed at opposite sides of thebathtub at the top of the bathtub and having channels therein receivingthe lower parts of said canopy support portions, a pair of casingssupported in fixed position adjacent opposite ends of the bathtub, eachof said casings receiving one of said canopy portions, and movableclosure means for closing 01f a portion of each of said casings.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,157,842 10/1915 Brandalle 4-1621,652,437 12/1927 Handelan 4162 1,946,204 2/1934 Dillard 4- -l622,095,749 10/ 1937 Kellner 4-162 2,541,029 2/1951 Burton 4l62 3,115,64512/1963 Spence 4l6-1 3,119,122. 1/ 1964 Weisback 4-162 3,375,534- 4/1968 Viecel 4-162 FOREIGN PATENTS 164,161 4/ 1950 Austria 4162 166,7269/1950 Austria 4162 HENRY K.- ARIIS, Primary Examiner

